Jury reaches verdict on four out of five counts in Sean ‘Diddy' Combs sex trial
The judge indicated that he would instruct the jury to continue weighing the charge, echoing the sentiments of prosecutors and Combs' defence team that just two days into deliberations was too soon to give up on reaching a verdict on all counts.
Judge Arun Subramanian said he had received a note at 4.05pm indicating the jury had reached a partial verdict. The note said the jury was unable to reach a unanimous verdict on the racketeering conspiracy charge because there were jurors with 'unpersuadable views' on both sides.
Combs' lawyers surrounded him at the defence table soon after the note was sent to the court. The hip-hop mogul appeared morose as they explained to him what was happening.
At one point, lead defence lawyer Marc Agnifilo stepped away from the huddle, returned with a piece of paper and handed it to Combs, who read it solemnly.
Meanwhile, prosecutors were at their table glued to their phones and laptop computers.
Assistant US attorney Maurene Comey suggested the judge give the jury a modified version of what is known as an Allen charge — instructions encouraging them to keep deliberating after reaching an impasse.
Racketeering conspiracy — count one on the jury's verdict sheet — is the most complicated of the charges against Combs because it requires the jury to decide not only whether he ran a 'racketeering enterprise', but also whether he was involved in committing some or all of various types of offences, such as kidnapping and arson.
The charge falls under Rico — the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organisations Act — which is best known for being used in organised crime and drug cartel cases.
The jury has been deliberating since Monday. Earlier on Tuesday they asked to review critical testimony from one of the prosecution's most important witnesses: the hip-hop mogul's former longtime girlfriend Casandra 'Cassie' Ventura.
Jurors requested the testimony about 75 minutes into their second day of weighing charges that Combs used his fame, wealth and violence to force two girlfriends into drug-fuelled sex marathons with male sex workers known as 'freak-offs' or 'hotel nights'.
The panel of eight men and four women asked for Ms Ventura's account of Combs beating, kicking and dragging her at a Los Angeles hotel in 2016 — an assault captured on now-infamous security camera footage.
They also asked to see Ms Ventura's testimony about an incident in which she said Combs accused her of taking drugs from him and kicked her off of their yacht at the Cannes Film Festival in France in 2013. On their way back to the US, she said, he threatened to release explicit videos of her having sex.
The jury's testimony request came soon after Combs' lawyers and prosecutors began the day haggling with Judge Subramanian over a jury question left over from the end of the first day of deliberations on Monday.
Jurors wanted clarification about what qualifies as drug distribution, an aspect of the racketeering conspiracy charge that will help determine whether Combs can be convicted or exonerated on the count.
Judge Subramanian said he would remind jurors of the instructions he gave them on that part of the case before they started deliberating on Monday.
Combs' lawyers had pushed for a more expansive response, but prosecutors argued — and Judge Subramanian agreed — that doing so could end up confusing jurors more.
On Monday, the panel deliberated for more than five hours without reaching a verdict.
Defence lawyers contend that prosecutors are trying to criminalise Combs' swinger lifestyle and that, if anything, his conduct amounted to domestic violence, not federal felonies.
Combs, 55, could face 15 years in prison to life behind bars if he is convicted of all charges.
After pleading not guilty, Combs chose not to testify as his lawyers built their arguments for acquittal mostly through lengthy cross-examinations of dozens of witnesses called by prosecutors, including some of Combs' former employees who took the witness stand reluctantly only after being granted immunity.
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Yahoo
29 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Sean "Diddy" Combs acquitted of sex trafficking, convicted on lesser charges
Sean "Diddy" Combs was found guilty Wednesday of transportation to engage in prostitution in his federal trial in New York, but the music mogul was acquitted of the more severe charges of racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking. Combs was convicted of two counts of the prostitution-related charge. Each count carries a maximum sentence of 10 years in prison. When the verdict was announced, Combs turned around, kneeled down on the ground, put his hands on his chair and prayed. He and his family erupted in loud applause, cheering loudly and whistling. Following the decision, Combs' lawyers argued for him to be released from custody immediately and be able to return to his Miami home, emphasizing that this was his first conviction. Prosecutors opposed the defense's request. The judge asked both the prosecution and defense to submit letters as to why Combs should be released Wednesday or remain detained. Court was expected to resume at 1 p.m. Eastern time. The developments come after jurors said Tuesday they'd agreed on four of the five counts against Combs but disagreed on racketeering conspiracy. They reached a verdict on all five counts Wednesday morning. Jurors began deliberating in U.S. District Court in lower Manhattan on Monday. They said they'd reached a partial verdict Tuesday, but Judge Arun Subramanian sent them back to continue deliberating on the remaining count. What are the charges against Sean "Diddy" Combs? The grand jury indictment against the 55-year-old Combs, unsealed in September 2024, initially charged the hip-hop mogul with three counts following his arrest at a Manhattan hotel. In April, before the trial began, prosecutors filed additional charges, bringing the total number of counts against him to five. Combs pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The charges against Combs are: Count 1: Rackeering conspiracyCount 2: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion (Casandra Ventura)Count 3: Transportation to engage in prostitution (Casandra Ventura)Count 4: Sex trafficking by force, fraud or coercion ("Jane")Count 5: Transportation to engage in prostitution ("Jane") "Jane" is a pseudonym used in court for an ex-girlfriend of Combs who testified against him. What is the Mann Act? The prostitution-related charges allege violations of the Mann Act, a law that makes it a federal crime to transport someone across state lines for prostitution. The charge of racketeering conspiracy requires prosecutors to prove a number of elements: that there was an agreement among two or more people to participate in a pattern of activity that would affect interstate commerce; that the defendant willfully joined it; and that members of the conspiracy committed two or more racketeering acts. The charging document lists a number of alleged racketeering acts, including kidnapping, bribery, sex trafficking and forced labor. Prosecutors alleged that Combs' business empire created a criminal enterprise that he used for years to cover up acts of violence and abuse and to coerce women into fulfilling his sexual desires. Jurors heard from more than 30 witnesses over the course of seven weeks as the prosecution went through its case. Combs denied the accusations but chose not to take the stand to testify in his defense. His attorneys did not call any witnesses during the trial, though they did conduct extensive cross-examinations of the government's witnesses. Combs' lawyers argued the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond a reasonable doubt. "Freak-offs" part of emotional and graphic testimony The high-profile trial, which started in May, included graphic and emotional testimony from two of Combs' former girlfriends. Casandra Ventura, the R&B singer known as Cassie who spent more than a decade with him, testified about drug-fueled sex sessions that Combs allegedly referred to as "freak-offs." Ventura testified that he directed all the encounters, which could last for days, and that she felt forced to participate to make him happy. Ventura testified that Combs controlled every aspect of her life, and that she often did things out of fear, since physical abuse was "frequent." Combs' attorneys argued that the encounters were consensual. During cross-examination, the defense showed the jury a 2009 message from Ventura to Combs that read, "I'm always ready to freak off." Ventura also testified about a 2016 incident which was caught on surveillance video showing Combs beating and kicking her in a California hotel hallway. Combs apologized at the time, saying his behavior was "inexcusable" and that he took "full responsibility" for his actions. Ventura testified that the attack happened as she was trying to leave a "freak-off" that had turned violent. A former hotel security officer testified that Combs offered him cash after the attack, which the officer said he understood to be a bribe. Ventura had filed a civil lawsuit against Combs in 2023, accusing him of physically and sexually abusing her. Combs denied the claims and quickly reached a settlement with her. In his closing argument to the jury Friday, defense attorney Marc Agnifilo said, "If you had to pick a winner in this whole thing, it's hard not to pick Cassie." Another former girlfriend of Combs testified under the pseudonym "Jane" to protect her identity. She told the court she often participated in what she called "hotel nights," which also involved drugs. Jane testified she would have sex with a male escort while Combs watched. She said she told Combs many times that she didn't want to have sex with other men and didn't like the "hotel nights." Combs' lawyers displayed messages showing her setting up "hotel nights." Jane said she felt pressured and that she had grown financially dependent on Combs. In the prosecution's closing arguments, Assistant U.S. Attorney Christy Slavik described Combs as "the leader of a criminal enterprise. He doesn't take no for an answer. And now you know about many crimes he committed with members of his enterprise." She said he used a "small army" of employees to harm women and then cover it up. "He thought that his fame, wealth and power put him above the law," Slavik said. Agnifilo countered by arguing that prosecutors "badly exaggerated" evidence of a swinger lifestyle and threesomes, combining it with recreational drug use and calling it a racketeering conspiracy. "He did not do the things he's charged with. He didn't do racketeering conspiracy and sex trafficking," Combs' lawyer said. "Sean Diddy Combs: The Verdict," a one-hour special on the case, will air on CBS News 24/7 at 9 p.m. ET the night of the jury's decision. Download the free CBS News app to watch on your mobile or streaming device, or stream on Paramount+. Split verdict in Sean "Diddy" Combs' sex trafficking and racketeering trial | Special Report General David Petraeus weighs in on global conflict and U.S. strategy Tiny eyelash mites can cause a common eye disease. How can we protect our eyes?
Miami Herald
an hour ago
- Miami Herald
Diddy do it? Jury says music exec not guilty of sex trafficking
Music executive Sean 'Diddy' Combs on Wednesday morning was found not guiltyof federal sex trafficking and racketeering charges with links to Miami in a federal court in New York City, according to the Associated Press. If he had been convicted of those offenses, he was facing the possibility of spending the rest of his life behind bars. However, the 55-year-old could still spend up to a decade in prison because jurors found Diddy guilty of a prostitution-related crime. The verdict came after three days of deliberations — and almost a year after Diddy's enclaves in Miami Beach and Los Angeles were blitzed by federal agents. Diddy was arrested in September 2024, six months after the raids. The Grammy Award-winning music mogul was accused of running a 'racketeering conspiracy' by having 'engaged in a persistent and pervasive pattern of abuse toward women and other individuals.' Much of that alleged activity occurred at Diddy's posh homes on Star Island. READ MORE: Prostitutes, opioids and guns? Cops called to Diddy's Miami Beach mansions over 30 times The Bad Boy records label founder owns 1 Star Island Drive, which he purchased from Gloria and Emilio Estefan in 2021 for $35 million, and 2 Star Island Drive, which he has owned for more than two decades. The Herald's review of police records show that officers were called to Diddy's mansions more than 30 times — with callers complaining about prostitution, drugs and illicit weapons inside the sprawling homes since 2021. Singer Cassie, Diddy's ex-girlfriend whose real name is Casandra Elizabeth Ventura, was the catalyst to Diddy's legal woes. In a lawsuit, Cassie alleged that Diddy raped her and made her have sex with male sex workers throughout their decade-long relationship. Diddy settled that lawsuit the day after it was filed. This report will be updated as more information becomes available
New York Times
an hour ago
- New York Times
Live Updates: Sean Combs Acquitted of Sex Trafficking but Found Guilty on Lesser Charges
A view from the jury box in a federal courtroom similar to the one where a panel has been listening to testimony in the trial of Sean Combs. The jury in Sean Combs's sex-trafficking and racketeering conspiracy trial, which revealed some internal conflict during deliberations, was a racially diverse group of eight men and four women who range in age from 30 to 74 and live in Manhattan, Westchester County and the Bronx. The court has not released the names of the jurors, which is common in high-profile trials where their safety is a concern. On Wednesday, the jury announced that it found Mr. Combs not guilty of the most serious charges against him, sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy, while convicting him of two counts of transportation to engage in prostitution. During 28 days of often wrenching testimony, the jurors were punctual, attentive and, for the most part, impassive. Jurors heard two of Mr. Combs's former girlfriends testify about years of sexual encounters with male prostitutes known as 'freak-offs' and 'hotel nights,' some of which were shown on video. They listened to testimony from former personal assistants, law enforcement officials and a hotel security officer who explained a $100,000 cash payment for incriminating video footage of a hotel assault by Mr. Combs. In the end, however, the jurors were not persuaded that Mr. Combs had forced two former girlfriends through violence and coercion to have sex with male prostitutes against their will, the core argument of the sex-trafficking charges against him. Neither were they convinced that Mr. Combs and his employees had formed a criminal racketeering enterprise that agreed to commit a number of crimes over the course of a decade, including bribery, arson, sex-trafficking and drug distribution. When the jurors began deliberating on Monday, they quickly raised concerns to Judge Arun Subramanian, who had sworn them in after a weeklong selection process in May. About one hour into deliberations, the foreperson reported an issue with one juror, identified as No. 25, 'who we are concerned cannot follow your honor's instructions.' Eleven hours later, the jury said it had reached a verdict on four counts but could not on a racketeering charge because of 'unpersuadable opinions on both sides.' In both cases, the judge told the jury to keep deliberating. Two weeks ago, Judge Subramanian dismissed a juror after finding that he had given inconsistent answers about his residence, raising concerns that he might have been angling for a role in the case. Mr. Combs's lawyers argued unsuccessfully that it would unfairly affect their client if that juror, a state corrections department employee who is a Black man, were removed. The original panel had at least two Black women and two Black men; the alternate who replaced the juror was a white man. During the trial, Mr. Combs was reprimanded by the judge after he nodded vigorously at the panel when his lawyers cross-examined a witness about an violent incident that she said had taken place on a balcony. The judge called Mr. Combs's behavior 'absolutely unacceptable.' At another point, Mr. Combs smiled and mouthed 'cold' to a juror who was rubbing his arms; the juror nodded and smiled back. During jury selection, jurors were asked about their occupations and the types of music they listened to. Many said they enjoyed classical music, rock and jazz, while a few mentioned they liked R&B and hip-hop. Some jurors have jobs in finance, health care, and social services. There is also a massage therapist, a deli clerk, a dietary aide at a nursing home and a retired Verizon field technician. Many of the jurors said during voir dire that they were aware of the charges against Mr. Combs and had seen a video of Mr. Combs assaulting his girlfriend, the singer Cassie, at an InterContinental Hotel in March 2016, which CNN aired in 2024. Still, they assured the judge that they could deliver a verdict based on the facts of the case. 'They're allegations, right?' one male juror said during questioning in May. 'I'm old enough to have heard a lot of stories before trial, and then when the evidence is actually presented, things are, you know — the truth comes out.'
